The uniqueness of Lincoln's beard

[RJNorton]

I can't believe he thought he was making a dapper fashion statement.

IMO the beard looked different (somewhat less sparse) depending on the photo. I am not sure Lincoln's goal was ever to appear "dapper." I think Mary complained, but I don't think he cared. At the Cooper Union (before the beard was added) one witness said, "one of the legs of his trousers was up about two inches above his shoe; his hair was disheveled and stuck out like rooster’s feathers; his coat was altogether too large for him in the back, his arms much longer than his sleeves."